Locally Grown gets off to a solid start with Dusty Rhodes & the River Band, the Fling, Two Guns

For the second time the Grove of Anaheim is presenting its Locally Grown concert series, featuring acts of various genres from Orange County and Long Beach. Dusty Rhodes & the River Band, said to be calling it quits after one last tour, along with the Fling and Two Guns kicked off the four-week program (plus special-event encore) Thursday on the venue's patio entryway, and though the crowd was small -- starting with a couple dozen attendees but building to 120 or so -- it was mighty in spirit. Clearly those who came were stoked to be there.

Headliner the River band, who early this year took home three OC Music Awards at the Grove, continues to be a trip; you can hardly find a more mixed bag of musicians on stage. The wildly entertaining sextet from Anaheim dwarfed the outdoor set-up once all of its equipment was situated -- keyboards, guitars, violins, mandolins, drums, bass, accordions and who knows what else.

Vocalist and keysman Dustin Apodaca -- who mentioned he's running for Anaheim City Council (but was he serious?) -- joked about the crowded space before the band went into a cover of "The Weight" by the Band.

"You're in for a real treat here," he shouted, almost mock-preaching, to the excited crowd. "But I can't rock out too hard -- I might die. This stage is a little scary, I'm not gonna lie."It's a shame to hear that the River Band is planning on packing it in, as the quirky, energetic outfit has chops and strong songs that can seamlessly transition from toe-tapping Americana and '70s-inspired rock to an almost gospel-soul sound. After hearing "The Weight," I was really hoping for "House of the Rising Sun" by the Animals -- this band could have totally pulled that off.

In March at the OCMAs, Dusty Rhodes & the River Band, whose disc Palace and Stage was nominated for best album, won for best rock, best country/Americana and best live band. Its self-titled (and apparently last) collection, featuring new recordings of previously released material plus a few new songs, came out July 15.

The Fling, an indie-rock quartet from Long Beach, also delivered a stellar performance bolstered by amazing, spot-on harmonies. Vocalist Dustin Lovelis has a distinct voice (and a pretty sweet mustache); one minute these guys rock out like Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, the next they're stirring up a more ambient feel in the vein of Pink Floyd.

From the heavy moodiness of "Friend of Mine" to the more bouncy "Out of My Head" (totally reminiscent of an Oasisanthem), the audience was really into it. Both of those tracks will be on the Fling's new album, When the Mad Houses Appear, due online on Aug. 31. The band is throwing a release party for it Aug. 27 at Spaceland in Los Angeles.

Two Guns, another outfit from Long Beach, opened, and its song "Land and Sea" -- in which vocalist Kevin Poush coos like young-nerdy Elvis Costello sans the thick brimmed glasses -- one of the night's highlights. But "The Yellow Book" was my favorite; it's a sweet sounding song with slight stalker undertones in which Poush sings "I'll turn you into my valentine." The frontman shared after the show that it has been used on the season finale of MTV's Jersey Shore.

"I didn't see it when it aired but I remember my phone blowing up that night," he told me. "They played it after they had this huge fight on the show and someone stormed out -- and then you hear the intro to the song. That was kind of weird."

Two Guns will have a new disc, Far People in Far Places, out by the end of the year. The band is working with producer Matt Wignall, who also oversaw January's Behave Yourself EP from fellow local act Cold War Kids.

Infectious pop/hip-hop trio Blok headlines Locally Grown on Aug. 12 ... rockabilly group the Sugar Daddys top the bill on Aug. 19 ... and acclaimed local stars the Union Line appear on Aug. 26. All shows start at 8 p.m., $10, all ages, free parking. The series will conclude Sept. 18 with Reel Big Fish, Suburban Legends and more. Stay tuned for more details on that gig.

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